Here's my thoughts.

Its a long story I'll make FAST. My parents were married and my father had been drafted in the Army. My mom left me in a motel and literally walked away.

Not one day of my life growing up, did I not think about her in some way. I never saw her after I was about 18 months old.

I don't know the circumstances of the breakup. Your ages, maturity or 100 other things.

But to this day I wish I knew my mom, my grandparents and all of my bloodline from her side of the family.

Look at adopted kids... There's always a hole in their lives and their hearts.
They spend money and so much time looking for parents. Good or bad... they want to know them.

Whatever your decision is.... Make sure its truely from your heart and for what your kids want and will want when they are older.

I hope whatever you decide... Your kids don't suffer for it.

I never found my mom. And to this day, I wonder about siblings and how many.

Seamus, I am sorry that your mom did not leave you any clues as to your maternal identity family. I know some people have found their siblings and extended family members through dna testing like on ancestory website.
Jo, I've seen many stories of where parents of children want to be a part of their lives after signing away their rights previously. It's a difficult decision, stay strong, calm, and balanced. Work out your feelings so you can be calm when working this out.
Best wishes.

This is so much easier said than done. I am so sorry you are going through this I can relate on every level. If your ex Signed over all rights he does not have a legal leg per say to return but as hard as it is remember the children. My son has not seen his father for years and would not know him if he did but he does ask and he does miss "the thought" of the man who should be there even though I am remarried and he is supported. We as parents do not hold the right to make that call of what our child is feeling. It scares me every time I hear from my ex but not once has he tried to see our son its usually only to start Drama. So I feel the fear and then my heart breaks knowing he doesn't care enough to ask about the innocent child. My opinion and only a opinion as a new person here, Do whats best for the kids and consider what they want they will thank you in the long run. Hope it works out for you.

Being a child whose parents got divorced at a young age I can honestly say its tough. My father went through his stage where he didn't want to help take care of us ( financially), so we didn't go see him . It was a couple years that had passed before we saw him again, and once we did it was a burden of going over there. Being an adult now and looking back its definitely a learning experience when it came to how I carried myself and treated my mother. There was so much negativity in the air that it took a toll on my mother, like it would any mother. Debating about your kids is something that should never happen, and it's not fair to you or your kids that he just wants to magically walk back into their lives, when he shouldn't have left in the first place (unless for an extreme reason). I hope and everything works put, best of luck to you and your kids, You'll will conquer this!